Note: these 'words' (valid or invalid) are all the permutations of the word rat. These words are obtained by scrambling the letters in rat.
Definitions and meaning of rat
rat
Pronunciation
enPR: răt, IPA(key): /ɹæt/
Rhymes: -æt
Etymology 1
From Middle Englishratte, rat, rotte, from Old Englishrætt, as though from Proto-Germanic*rattaz, *rattō (compare West Frisianrôt, Dutchrat), possibly from Proto-Indo-European*reh₁d-(“to scrape, scratch, gnaw”); however, the rat was unknown in Northern Europe in antiquity, so if the Proto-Germanic word is real it must have referred to a different animal. Attestation of this family of words begins in the 12th century.
Some of the Germanic cognates show consonant variation, e.g. Middle Low Germanratte, radde; Middle High Germanrate, ratte, ratze. The irregularity may be symptomatic of a late dispersal of the word, in which case it would not be old. Kroonen (2011) rather accounts for it with a Proto-Germanic stem *raþō nom., *ruttaz gen., showing both ablaut and a Kluge's law alternation, with the variation arising from varying remodellings in the daughters. Kroonen's explanation requires a Proto-Indo-European etymon in final *t, and is hence incompatible with the usual derivation from Proto-Indo-European*reh₁d-(“to scrape, scratch, gnaw”).
Noun
rat (pluralrats)
(zoology) A medium-sized rodent belonging to the genus Rattus.
(informal) Any of the numerous members of several rodent families (e.g. voles and mice) that resemble true rats in appearance, usually having a pointy snout, a long, bare tail, and body length greater than about 12 cm, or 5 inches.
(informal) A person who is known for betrayal; a scoundrel; a quisling.
1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island
He’s more a man than any pair of rats of you in this here house.
(informal) An informant or snitch.
(informal) A scab: a worker who acts against trade union policies.
(slang) A person who routinely spends time at a particular location.
A wad of shed hair used as part of a hairstyle.
A roll of material used to puff out the hair, which is turned over it.
1910, L. W. Pierce, "Muskrats are fast disappearing", in Hunter-trader-trapper, page 70:
The price of rats began to rise and soon after the marsh froze over, spearing rats began, which was done with a one tine three-eighths inch steel rod, with a wooden handle […]
1929, E. J. Dailey, in Hardings Magazine's Question Box, printed in Fur Fish Game, page 73:
Where natural marshes, or natural foods are found, are best places for raising muskrats. Louisiana and other southern states raise millions of rats, but they do not bring as good prices as northern raised ones. Delaware and Maryland have famed marshes. Other states are becoming noted for muskrat raising, also.
Synonyms
(person known for betrayal):traitor (see for more synonyms)
(informer):stool pigeon
Derived terms
Translations
See also
mouse
rodent
Verb
rat (third-person singular simple presentrats, present participleratting, simple past and past participleratted)
(usually with “on” or “out”) To betray a person or party, especially by telling their secret to an authority or an enemy; to turn someone in.
He ratted on his coworker.
He is going to rat us out!
(informal, intransitive) To work as a scab, going against trade union policies.
(of a dog, etc.) To kill rats.
Synonyms
(to betray someone to an authority):tell on, to finger or put the finger on, bewray
Translations
Etymology 2
From Middle Englishratten, further etymology unknown. Compare Middle High Germanratzen(“to scratch; rasp; tear”). Could be related to write. See also rit.
Noun
rat (pluralrats)
(regional) A scratch or a score.
(nautical, regional) A place in the sea with rapid currents and crags where a ship is likely to be torn apart in stormy weather.
Verb
rat (third-person singular simple presentrats, present participleratting, simple past and past participleratted)
(regional) To scratch or score.
(regional, rare, obsolete) To tear, rip, rend.
Damn, drat, blast; used in oaths.
1904, Rafael Sabatini, The Tavern Knight, chapter XXVI:
“But, rat me, sir,” cried Foster in bewilderment, “tis too generous—'pon honour it is. I can't consent to it. No, rat me, I can't.”
Usage notes
The verb rat is rarely used in the second sense. In the sense to tear, rip, rend, the form to-rat is more common. Compare Germanzerreißen(“to rip up, tear, rend”).
References
The Middle English Dictionary
The English dialect dictionary
Etymology 3
Noun
rat (pluralrats)
(military, slang) A ration.
2014, John, Buffoon (page 243)
With regards to the testing of his product, the initial blood analysis had come back confirming huge, distinctive nutritional superiority for Stewart's military ration pack. Given that the policy of the British Army is to be fully ready for war at the drop of a hat, he was sitting on the potential of supplying new rats for the entire army […]
Bratchet, A. (1873) , “rat”, in Kitchin, G. W., transl., Etymological dictionary of the French language (Clarendon Press Series), 1st edition, London: Oxford/MacMillan and Co.
Romani
Etymology
From Sanskritरक्त(rakta, “blood”). Cognate with dialectal Hindiरात(rāt) and Punjabiਰੱਤ(ratta).
Noun
ratm (pluralrat)
blood
Romansch
Etymology
From Frankish*rato(“rat”).
Noun
ratm (pluralrats)
(Surmiran) rat
Synonyms
ratung
Serbo-Croatian
Etymology
From Proto-Slavic*ortь, from the o-grade of Proto-Indo-European*h₃er-(“to rise, to attack”), cognate to Ancient Greekἔρις(éris, “quarrel, strife”), Sanskritऋति(ṛti, “assault”) and Proto-Germanic*ernustuz(“struggle, fight”)
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /rât/
Noun
rȁtm (Cyrillic spellingра̏т)
war
Declension
Synonyms
vojna
Torres Strait Creole
Etymology
From Englishrat.
Noun
rat
rat or mouse
Synonyms
mukeis(eastern dialect)
Volapük
Etymology
Borrowed from Englishrat.
Pronunciation
IPA(key): [ɾat]
Noun
rat (nominative pluralrats)
rat (rodent of the family Muridae)
Declension
Hypernyms
nim
sügaf
süganim
tuetaf
tuetanim
Hyponyms
ratil
ratül
Derived terms
See also
mug
yat
Westrobothnian
Etymology
Cognate to Icelandichratn.
Noun
ratn
garbage, waste, in forest lying twigs, rotten trees and stumps